Dec 15, 2015 | Business, Events, Press
This article by Michael Smith appeared in the December 15, 2015 Sports Business Daily.
Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment has completed a sponsorship agreement with the Reese’s Senior Bowl that will enable the Wall Street firm to introduce its …
Gigi has been part of the agency for four years and her current focus is on overall account management, project development and sponsorship procurement for Gildan’s sports and entertainment marketing division. Spearheading properties under the brand umbrella such as the Gildan Music Festival Tour, Gildan & Blake Shelton Tour, The Gildan Charleston Classic and the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Gigi is a proud Georgia Southern University alum who bleeds blue and white. When not at MELT, Gigi can be found backstage at a rock show or cruising the Atlanta sports scene with her family and friends.
Chad is a seasoned veteran of the Advertising creative playing field. Having started out in Atlanta, he went off to cut his teeth in New York City and Chicago for 15 years at some of the most noteworthy agencies in the country such as Leo Burnett, Havas, Grey, Razorfish and MARC USA. During this time he gained experience in broadcast, print, digital, social, direct, and OOH for clients such as International Trucks, Trusted Choice Insurance, Kellogg’s, True Value, Citi, Barilla Pasta, Blackberry, and Ice Breakers Mints. During his career, his work has been recognized by the One Show, Addy’s, Lürzers Archive, and Ads of the World. Now he is returned home to Atlanta where he thinks it’s adorable that most people down here wear big puffy coats in 50-degree weather.
Gwen currently serves as a full-time nanny for MELT, helping oversee the wellness of families throughout the agency. She has been lending her services to MELT for over six years. When she is not helping out at MELT she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially planting in her garden.
Stefhan currently handles day-to-day management and logistics for the agency’s warehouse operations. He has multiple years of experience in the field working with clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, POWERADE, IHG, NCAA KIA and Gildan. When Stefhan is not leading the agency’s warehouse operations, he enjoys attending various sporting events, as well as spending time with his family.
Jeff is a CPA with 40 years of professional accounting experience. He began his career as an auditor with Ernst and Young and has served 900+ clients, consisting of large and small organizations. His speciality is providing systems, procedures and reports that give business owners, executives and manager the information to need to profitably build their enterprises.
Mark joins the MELT team as the Director of PR and Community Affairs after a 25- year stint as an award-winning Atlanta sportscaster. He has covered it all from the preps to the pros including Super Bowls, World Series, The Masters, along with multiple MLB, NBA and NHL All-Star Games and playoffs. Mark will work to spread the word on all of MELT’s clients and successes. When you see Mark at an event, step up and say hello.
Amanda has 14 years experience directly supporting C-Level Executives. Her background includes luxury apparel, retail, international manufacturing, finance, telecommunications and marketing. Her dogs have given her the tools to succeed in supporting some of the most revered executives in their respective industry.
Anna has many years of experience in consumer behavior and strategic planning, working with clients like Coca-Cola, POWERADE, Core Power and Gildan. She recently got her Master’s from Savannah College of Art and Design where her work received national recognition for consumer strategy. She loves research, graphs and saying the world “millennial” and her dog Piper.
Jenna is an ace at navigating the ever-changing digital and social media space with clients such as POWERADE, IHG and Gildan. She writes social media campaign strategies, advises on paid digital media plans and captures content onsite for many client experiential activations. She’s authored tweets for celebrities like Blake Shelton and never starts the morning without checking out what’s trending online.
Snigdha is former NHL Ice Girl whose background consists of years of experience in the collegiate sports landscape. She currently works across clients such as Coca-Cola, Sprite and the Swatch Group conceptualizing and executing digital and social media campaigns. Snigdha is a proud Tennessee Vol who’s trying to change the world 140 characters at a time.
Claire has been part of the agency for three years and her current focus in on managing events and brand activations for The Coca-Cola Company. She drives brand value for various properties under the brand umbrella such as ESPN College GameDay, NCAA Final Four, the Olympic Games and Coca-Cola Sports Summits. When not at MELT, Claire can be found on the lake either slaloming or surfing.
Amber has been an integral member of the agency for four years. She currently focuses on overall account management, project development and celebrity talent procurement for The Coca-Cola Company’s sports, entertainment and culinary sponsorships. When not at MELT, Amber can be found cheering on the Braves or working in her garden with the help of her beloved pups.
Travis develops overall marketing strategy for new and existing clients while building additional opportunities through client loyalty. In his role as Account Director, Travis runs multiple event teams on key projects through the SEC, ACC, MLB, NBA and NCAA. Travis is a proud Florida State alum who enjoys spending time with his family and their beloved dog, Teddy.
Travis leads the agency’s content marketing and interactive development teams to produce compelling branded content, advertising and interactive experiences for web, mobile and event activation. He leads the charge in content and interactive production on behalf of brands, including The Coca-Cola Company, POWERADE, CBS Sports, Popeye’s and Gildan, to name a few.
Doug has been in the digital sports content world since graduating from the University of Miami. He leads the digital/ social media team, working with clients like Coca-Cola, Gildan, POWERADE among more. After years sitting on press row as a sports writer, Doug is enjoying better meals while on the road for work.
Sarah brings 15+ years of event and account experience working with brands and properties across sports and entertainment. Her current role consists of managing the many events, experiential programs and brand initiatives for MELT clients, primarily The Coca-Cola Company. When not at MELT, Sarah can be found spending time in her yard with her beloved dogs by her side.
David manages the development of all creative work for the agency and its clients. With more than 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising promotions and design, David has developed award-winning creative for brands and properties of all sizes from regionally-focused companies to global icons. When not at MELT, David can be found chauffeuring his daughters around the country for their traveling teams or relaxing in the mountains.
Vince Thompson is a world-class, award-winning (2017 and 2015 ABA Agency
of the Year, 2015 ADA Father of the Year, 2014 Cynopsis Brand Marketer and
Social Good, Event Marketer EX Award, Biz Bash Top 50, Adweek Buzz Award)
brand builder and one of the leading sports marketers in the country.
In 2000, Thompson founded and has built MELT into one of the largest
full-service sports, culinary and entertainment marketing agencies in the
country. This includes MELT’s 17-year representation of The Coca-Cola
Company, one of the nation’s longest-running agency partnerships. Activations
include 15 straight Final Fours; the creation, in 2003, of the NCAA March
Madness Music platform; the creation, in 2017, of the inaugural “Taste of The
Tournament” with Hershey’s, Kroger and Mondelez, and four straight seasons
of ESPN College GameDay. Other brand activations include Core Power,
Powerade and Sprite. MELT represents many Fortune 1000 companies
including Aaron’s, Caterpillar, Gildan, GA Crown, GA Lottery, IHG, KIA,
Popeye’s and others.
In 2015, Thompson founded MELT Culinary as a new division aimed at unifying
chefs and the culinary community globally to offer CPG companies insight and
innovation as consumer consumption habits shift rapidly.
Thompson graduated from Auburn University in 1984 with a BA in
Communications. While there he worked as a Student Assistant in the Sports
Information Department covering Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley. He was a
Sports Editor of The Auburn Plainsman, the campus newspaper. It was these
career shaping experiences that led Thompson to form MELT University, an
intern program that provides invaluable experience for current college students
and recent college graduates to explore the various facets of the sports
marketing industry. Thompson also lectures at major colleges and universities
across the country on career development and at other major trade industry
conferences.
A well-known philanthropist, Thompson believes in the concept “To whom
much has been given, much is expected.” Thompson received the Wellspring
Foundation’s HOPE Award for work with abused and battered women in 2015.
He also received the Showcase Group’s 2014 Rise Award for his work with
victims and their families. Additionally, Thompson and MELT continue to be
very involved in eliminating sex trafficking in Atlanta.
A beach and ocean lover, cigars, fine red wine, fishing, exercising in Chastain
Park, Thompson lives in Buckhead with his son, Carter.
